TheSt. Ambrose University Center for Professional Development and the Quad-City Area Labor-Management Council (QCALM) have teamed to introduce a certificate program in interest-based bargaining that can help local companies and labor groups save time, reduce grievances and eliminate the need for arbitration in the course of contract negotiations.

The Labor-Management Relations Certificate program will teach conflict resolution skills, team-building concepts and the elements of self-reflection and self-understanding that promote sound decision-making. In addition, the certificate program will provide hands-on experience in contract negotiation, grievance handling and arbitration, taught by professionals with years of practical experience in contract negotiations and labor relations.

The program will feature six, 16-hour courses taught over three days, one each month from January through June. Each course will consist of two weeknight sessions from 5-9 p.m., and one Saturday session that will begin at 8 a.m. and end at 2 p.m.

All classes will be held at the St. Ambrose Center for Professional Development, 1950 E. 54th Street, Davenport.

An early bird registration discount tuition fee of $1,935 is offered through Dec. 15. Starting Dec. 16, cost for the certificate program is $2,150. Register online

New Professional Development Certificate

Labor-Management Relations Certificate

The certificate is earned through six, 16-hour courses taught over three days, one each month from January through June. Each course consists of two weeknight sessions and one Saturday session.

The certificate program will teach the value of bargaining around shared interests and mutually beneficial outcomes to representatives of both sides of a negotiation.

"The theme of this is moving from adversarial positional approaches to labor-management issues into some kind of interest-based, integrative thinking," said Randy Richards, PhD, a longtime SAU professor who will teach the program's conflict resolution course.

David Buller, CEO of QCALM, will bring the labor perspective to the classroom while John Tacker, an experienced labor relations attorney who has sat on both sides of the table in contract negotiations, will address the value of interest-based bargaining from both a labor and management perspective.

"We are finding it is a real asset. The workforce is changing, and a new generation of workers is more willing to look at interest-based bargaining rather than an adversarial style where you lock in on a position and butt heads until someone wins."

David Buller, CEO of QCALM

Introduced in the workplace about 20 years ago, the practice of interest-based bargaining is gaining new momentum, Buller said.

"We are finding it is a real asset," he said. "The workforce is changing and a new generation of workers is more willing to look at interest-based bargaining rather than an adversarial style where you lock in on a position and butt heads until someone wins."

This certificate program is designed for employees new to union leadership, who rising in union-management ranks or who want to become union officials. It also will benefit leaders and managers in business, industry and government who work with a union labor force.

Individuals can complete all six classes to earn a certificate. A company or union also can choose to have a different representative attend individual courses to build skills specific to their position.

Recognized as an Ambrose Scholar, first-year student Aaron Deter is ready for the bustlings of college life. “Not only do I believe I am capable of positively impacting St. Ambrose University, I am ready and excited to do just that,” he added.